Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss, a 22 year old medical student who describes herself as having a ‘wild South African heart’, won the title of Miss World 2014, taking the reins from Miss World 2013, the Philippines’ own Megan Young.
Edina Kulcsar, Miss Hungary, was the runner-up, and Elizabeth Safrit, Miss United States, came third.
When asked why she deserved to be Miss World, Rolene said: “Being proudly South African, I have firsthand experience that unity, respect, forgiveness exists those all the aspirations of the Miss World organization, so it would be amazing to represent an organization that is a beacon of hope all over the world.”
There were performances from Sky Blu, The Vamps, and the Miss World candidates as audiences and the ladies themselves waited anxiously to hear the results of each round.
One of the highlights of the evening came when the candidates surprised Beauty With a Purpose founder and Miss World chair Julia Morley with a tribute in the form of a song number. She was then greeted by Miss World 1994, Bollywood royalty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Miss World 1953 Denise Perrier, and Miss World 2013 Megan Young.